Blog | Jennifer McClure`

Creating High-Impact Presentations and Building a Profitable Speaking Business With Jennifer McClure and Dr. Daniel Crosby

I’ve had the best job in the world for over 10 years now – where I have the privilege of speaking on stages and in training rooms to groups of leaders around the world about how to increase their influence, focus strategically, and make a positive impact at work and in life.

When I stepped out on my own in 2010 to start my business, I had a little bit of experience, a healthy dose of confidence, and a whole lot of hope that I could build the relationships, and create impactful presentations that would result in a successful speaking business.

But like a lot of things in my life where I tend to jump off the cliff first, and then think about my parachute later, I wasn’t fully prepared for what it would take to find my lane, to determine how to set my speaking fees, or how to become a recognized expert.

So, queue admission into the school of hard knocks, where I’ve gained quite an education along the way, and as a result, have ultimately managed to build a business and life that I truly love.

Last year, my friend Dr. Daniel Crosby – who is a great public speaker himself, and was a also my guest on episode 14 of the Impact Makers Podcast, where he talked about understanding human behavior to do well, do good and do you – asked if I would join him on his Standard Deviations podcast to talk about what it takes to create great presentations — and if you’re into that kind of thing, how to actually get paid to speak, which is one of the most frequently asked questions we both receive.

Over a year later, the content of our conversation is still accurate and timely, and I continue to hear from people in Dr. Crosby’s audience who have found it helpful. So I asked him if I could share it with you today, and if you’re interested in crafting great presentations, and/or getting paid to speak, I think you’ll find it helpful.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

My path from HR executive to professional speaker, and why I felt like I needed at least 20 years of work experience before starting.
How giving away 10% of my time to help others helped me to get started as a speaker, and discover the work that I truly loved.
My personal recipe for crafting a great presentation.
What comedians and preachers can teach us about giving great presentations.
What adult learning theory tells us about what makes for a good speech.
Strategies for determining your speaking fee, what can happen if your price is too low, and how to get paid more.
Three books that I recommend for speakers to help with picking a lane, determining your pricing strategy, and building a memorable brand.
What Dr. Crosby did that 10x’d his speaking revenue.
3 concrete steps to take to build a profitable speaking business.

IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 46

(Email subscribers – click HERE to listen to the podcast.)

Key Quotes From This Episode:

“I always tell people who want to be a speaker – it’s a journey. I don’t know anybody who is a speaker – who is doing this for a living, or either a big component of their business – who just one day said, ‘I’m going to be a speaker’ – and hung their shingle up and people start clamoring to pay them.” ~ Jennifer McClure

“My advice to people who want to be a speaker? First – what do you know, and how can you give that knowledge away? And if you’re adding value to people while doing that, then they’re going to start asking you to do that more and more.” ~ Jennifer McClure

People & Resources Mentioned In This episode:

FREE RESOURCE: 10 Tips To BUILD YOUR BRAND and LAND Gigs as a Speaker!

Dr. Daniel Crosby LinkedIn

Dr. Daniel Crosby Twitter

Standard Deviations Podcast

Impact Makers Podcast Episode 014: Understanding Human Behavior to Do Well, Do Good and Do You with Dr. Daniel Crosby

Standard Deviations Podcast Episode 14: Jennifer McClure – On Becoming a Public Speaker

Centennial, Inc.

Mike Sipple, Sr.

Michelle Cushatt

Million Dollar Speaking: The Professional’s Guide to Building Your Platform by Alan Weiss

Million Dollar Consulting: The Professional’s Guide to Growing a Practice by Alan Weiss

Ryan Estis

Jane Atkinson

The Wealthy Speaker 2.0: The Proven Formula for Building Your Successful Speaking Business by Jane Atkinson

Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World by Michael Hyatt

Laurie Ruettimann

Jon Acuff

Toastmasters International

Connect with Jennifer:

Send her a message [https://jennifermcclure.net/contact/]

On LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermcclure

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferMcClure

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer_mcclure/

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JenniferMcClureSpeaker

Written by Jennifer McClure

Using the Content Fuel Framework to Find Your Story and Create Better Content With Melanie Deziel

Whether you work for a corporate brand – or you’re a personal brand – we all have something in common.

In order to persuade people to buy from us, work with us, or tell others about us, we have to be able to create powerful messages and stories that connect with our intended audience, and position us for success.

So, wouldn’t it be nice if there was some type of framework that could help us to choose a focus and format to tell our story, so we could create content that serves our mission in the best possible way?

Well, thankfully, there is a framework, and my guest today literally wrote the book on it.

Melanie Deziel is a keynote speaker, award-winning branded content creator, and a lifelong storyteller on a mission to share the power of creating compelling and credible content with others.

Melanie is the Founder and Chief Content Officer of StoryFuel, a company that teaches marketers, creators and organizations how to tell better brand stories, and she’s the author of the best-selling book – The Content Fuel Framework: How to Generate Unlimited Story Ideas.

I’ve enjoyed reading Melanie’s book, and have found the 10 x 10 content fuel framework helpful as I’ve had to re-think how I connect with my community, and share my message while speaking on stages around the world is not an option.

In our conversation today, Melanie shares how her experience as a journalist and content strategist for some of the most well-known companies and brands in the world was helpful to her when she decided to start and market her own business, and how she’s now on a mission to help others to create content that they can be proud of, and will get their messages heard.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

How the storytelling process used by corporate brands is similar to telling your own story as a personal brand.
The importance of understanding what is important to you, the message that you want to convey to your audience, and how your personal experiences can provide relevance and timeliness about your topic.
How Melanie applied her experience as a journalist and with storytelling to market her business once she went out on her own.
How volunteering to help sales people with client pitches led to Melanie becoming a successful international keynote speaker.
How the 10 x 10 grid of the Content Fuel Framework evolved from a series of presentations, to a workshop, then a keynote, and ultimately a book.
The challenges associated with launching a book during a global pandemic, and how Melanie has gotten creative to promote the book in non-traditional ways.
How to choose a focus and format to tell your story, and to create content that serves your mission in the best possible way.
Two things that a company – or a person – needs to consider before creating and sharing content, in order to get their message heard.

IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 45

(Email subscribers – click HERE to listen to the podcast.)

People & Resources Mentioned In This episode:

Melanie Deziel

Melanie Deziel LinkedIn

Melanie Deziel Twitter

Melanie Deziel Instagram

Storyfuel

The Content Fuel Framework: How to Generate Unlimited Story Ideas (For Marketers and Creators) by Melanie Deziel

Connect with Jennifer:

Send her a message [https://jennifermcclure.net/contact/]

On LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermcclure

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferMcClure

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer_mcclure/

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JenniferMcClureSpeaker

Written by Jennifer McClure

Get Out of Your Head and Just Get Things Done With Julie Turney

photo of Julie Turney

The reason that the Impact Makers Podcast exists is to bring you tools, tips and resources to help you build a career that you love, and to live a life that matters, and I love introducing you to people that I believe are truly making a difference out there in the world — those who can inspire you to take action in your own life, or help you to discover paths to impact that you may not have considered possible for yourself before.

Julie Turney is one of those inspiring people, and I hope that you’ll listen to this episode, as she shares how she’s taken intentional steps to grow her career and her network, and also to increase her impact.

And she’s just getting started.

Julie describes herself as a People Champion, and she’s also a woman of many talents, who wears many different hats. She’s a mom, a Human Resources Manager, an HR Performance Coach, an HR Disrupter, a public speaker, and she’s the host of the HR Sound Off Podcast Show.

She’s also currently writing her first book – in her spare time, of course – so she’ll soon be adding published author to her collection of titles. And she’s accomplished all of these things – and more – while living on the tiny and beautiful island of Barbados.

Since I first connected with Julie a little over a year ago, I’ve been super impressed with the growth that I’ve seen in her personally and professionally as she’s continued to expand her network, and has challenged herself to say “yes” to sometimes hard and scary things – all while continuing to work full time, and during a global pandemic that has isolated her and her fellow Bajans from the rest of the world.

I believe that you’ll find inspiration in Julie’s approach to growth and creating an impact in the world, and if you can get past the first few minutes of the episode where I’m fangirling out and grilling her about Rihanna’s whereabouts on Barbados, you’ll be glad you did. 😊

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

The surprising answer to an obvious question: Is Julie friends with Rihanna?
What Julie loves about HR, and why she feels that now – during a global pandemic – is the most exciting time to work in the profession.
What breaks Julie’s heart about how others sometimes perceive HR.
The important role that mentors have played in Julie’s life, and why she chose to actively mentor others in order to grow her own career.
How Julie originally connected with DisruptHR, and her plans are to expand DisruptHR events throughout the Caribbean.
Julie’s advice for people who make excuses about why they are being held back from achieving their dreams.
The surprising online Influencer that sparked Julie to take action and become a podcaster, DisruptHR organizer, Agile trainer, and HR Coach – in addition to continuing to work in a full-time job.
The power of LinkedIn for making connections that can change your life.

IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 44

(Email subscribers – click HERE to listen to the podcast.)

Key Quotes From This Episode:

“If you think of how Human Resources first started to where we are now, we are not the administrative paper-pushing people that we were in days of old. We are now guiding strategy, working with the c-suite, and building business strategy. We’re developing talent, we’re helping to create awesome cultures, we’re collaborating, and we’re understanding the business in it’s full context so that we can deliver products and services that are really going to benefit the people in that space. And we’re watching people develop and grow in their roles as they go along. So, for me, that’s what I love. That’s what I’m excited about.” ~ Julie Turney

“I do believe that mentorships are a 50/50 relationship. It’s not just about the mentor giving everything. It’s also about the mentee taking in and doing the work, but then sharing as well.” ~ Julie Turney

“It’s the stuff that I’m doing now, outside of my 9 – 5 that is making me happier. I’ve discovered myself, and my self worth, and my passion for HR. It’s all of those things that have inspired me to do the things that I’m doing now, and not my 9 – 5. So, I would say, you’ve got to do the thing that makes you happy.” ~ Julie Turney

People & Resources Mentioned In This episode:

HR at Heart / Julie Turney

Julie Turney LinkedIn

Julie Turney Twitter

Julie Turney Facebook

HR Sound Off podcast

Confessions of an HR Pro: Stories of Defeat and Triumph by Julie Turney

Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes

Ryan Holtz

Connect with Jennifer:

Send her a message [https://jennifermcclure.net/contact/]

On LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermcclure

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferMcClure

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer_mcclure/

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JenniferMcClureSpeaker

Written by Jennifer McClure

Creating Your Reset Story: Identifying and Overcoming the Limiting Beliefs That Hold Us Back with Kendra Ramirez

photo of Kendra Ramirez

Today’s guest on the podcast is my friend Kendra Ramirez.

Kendra is a well-respected entrepreneur who is a Women of Influence Award Winner, and a recipient of the John Barrett Entrepreneur Vision Award. She’s also been honored as the Cincy Chic Woman of the Year, an American Marketing Association Marketing Legend, and was a finalist for the Social Media Innovator of the Year.

Since 2005, Kendra and her team at the Kendra Ramirez Digital Agency have helped hundreds of organizations to leverage digital technologies to build relationships, brand themselves, generate sales leads, and attract talent. In 2018, Kendra also founded Reset, a mindset community that helps people to move from fear and anxiety to joy and gratitude.

Kendra and I both live in Cincinnati, and we started our entrepreneurial journeys at about the same time – around 2006 – and would see each other periodically at conferences and events, where we were both speaking about using LinkedIn, social media, networking, and a whole lot of topics that people were interested in during that time, in order to grow their businesses and careers.

And while I’ve always admired Kendra for the work that she’s done, and the reputation that she’s built, I’ve been curious about some of the shifts I’ve seen her making over the last couple of years related to building a healthy and positive mindset.

So I invited her to join me to share more about her journey through personal and business successes and setbacks that led her to seek out a mindset coach in order to overcome some of the limiting beliefs that were holding her back.

Since we’ve all had our lives disrupted by recent events related to the global COVID-19 pandemic, I think that Kendra’s recommendations for establishing and maintaining a positive mindset will be helpful to you, just as it was for me.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

After reviewing the business plan for her first training and speaking business in 2005, three business coaches told Kendra that she should not start the business. But she was passionate about the work, and believed in herself, so she did it anyway.
How the great recession of 2008 / 2009 forced Kendra to go back to working for someone else, in order to keep her dreams and her company alive.
Times of struggle are often times of growth, and what Kendra learned during the difficult times helped her to restart and refocus her business in a way that better served her customers.
How hiring a mindset coach 3 years ago helped Kendra to unlock her potential, learn to trust herself again, and address limiting beliefs that she’s held since childhood.
Kendra’s second business – a mindset and coaching community called Reset – helps others unlock their potential, and not struggle for as long as she did.
What have you learned during this time of global crisis and change that you will take forward into the future?
Two actions you can take to begin to work on your mindset, and establish a positive foundation.

IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 43

(Email subscribers – click HERE to listen to the podcast.)

Key Quotes From This Episode:

“I took that knowledge that I learned in that valley moment, and turned that and really shifted. So that was 6 years ago, and I’m so incredibly grateful that I’ve been able to evolve from there, and those learning lessons have served me so well now, during what we’re experiencing with another downturn. I’ve been in a place of peace this time. I haven’t been in a place of panic or worry, and so I’ve been able to just show up for other people, because I’ve been through this before and I’ve been able to just to show up and have conversation, and like you said, let people know that we will get through this, and we will grow on the other side. ~ Kendra Ramirez

People & Resources Mentioned in this episode:

Kendra Ramirez LinkedIn

Kendra Ramirez Twitter

Kendra Ramirez Instagram

Kendra Ramirez Facebook

Kendra Ramirez Digital Agency

Reset Mindset Community

Virtual Reset mindset conference – October 1, 2020

Danyetta Najoli

Mary Miller

Changing Direction: 10 Choices that Impact Your Dreams by Mary Miller & Dustin S. Klein

LaMarque Ward

Connect with Jennifer:

Send her a message [https://jennifermcclure.net/contact/]

On LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermcclure

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferMcClure

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer_mcclure/

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JenniferMcClureSpeaker

Written by Jennifer McClure

Developing a Strong Personal Brand That Enables You to Lead From Where You Are

Sometimes, I have the honor of being a guest on other podcasts or webinars, where I’m typically asked to share about one or more of the topics that I’m passionate about, including leadership, speaking, and personal branding, and I wanted to share one of those recent conversations with you.

Shortly after the world changed for us all as a result of a global pandemic, my friend, Erich Kurschat – who is the owner of Harmony Insights LLC, as well as the founder of an inclusive mastermind community called HRHotSeat – started scheduling half hour conversations over the lunch hour with people in his network to be intentional about connecting, and also to stay inspired in order to do his best work.

Back in June of 2020, I joined Erich for one of these lunch date conversations, where we chatted about the importance of personal branding for leaders at all levels, why introverts do not get a pass when it comes to personal branding, and how you can grow and develop your personal brand without having to be a speaker, a blogger, or an online Influencer.

I asked Erich if I could share the conversation with you, and he graciously agreed. So I hope that you enjoy it, and get a few takeaways from it that you can apply to your career.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

The importance of having a personal brand and being known for something / your expertise / doing great work.
The need to embrace your position as a leader – regardless of your position in an organization.
Why introverts do not get a pass when it comes to networking and Personal Branding.
Why you shouldn’t get hung up on the term “Personal branding”. Yes, it’s marketing, but truly it’s about becoming known, so you can be discovered for opportunities.
Growth and impact comes from challenging yourself and doing hard things
Does personal branding extend outside of your professional life?
Ways to develop and build a strong Personal Brand beyond becoming a speaker or having your own blog.
How my journey to become a professional speaker began with teaching what I knew – even if it wasn’t something that I was passionate about.

IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 42

(Email subscribers – click HERE to listen to the podcast.)

Key Quotes From This Episode:

“You’re in a leadership role in your organization, whether you have a leadership title or not. By being in the people profession, people are looking to you for leadership. So you have stepped into the light. There will be heat.” ~ Jennifer McClure

“An HR leader’s Personal Brand is so synonymous with the company that they work for – in both the quality of the people that work there, as well as the culture – that HR leaders who are still taking a back seat, and not taking active steps to develop their Personal Brand are not only hurting their careers, they’re also hurting their companies.” ~ Jennifer McClure